Deletion of NKX3.1 via CRISPR/Cas9 Induces Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia in C57BL/6 Mice

Comprehensive review of CRISPR-based gene editing: mechanisms, challenges, and applications in cancer therapy

The CRISPR system is a revolutionary genome editing tool that has the potential to revolutionize the field of cancer research and therapy. The ability to precisely target and edit specific genetic mutations that drive the growth and spread of tumors has opened up new possibilities for the development of more effective and personalized cancer treatments. In this review, we will discuss the different CRISPR-based strategies that have been proposed for cancer therapy, including inactivating genes that drive tumor growth, enhancing the immune response to cancer cells, repairing genetic mutations that cause cancer, and delivering cancer-killing molecules directly to tumor cells. We will also summarize the current state of preclinical studies and clinical trials of CRISPR-based cancer therapy, highlighting the most promising results and the challenges that still need to be overcome. Safety and delivery are also important challenges for CRISPR-based cancer therapy to become a viable clinical option. We will discuss the challenges and limitations that need to be overcome, such as off-target effects, safety, and delivery to the tumor site. Finally, we will provide an overview of the current challenges and opportunities in the field of CRISPR-based cancer therapy and discuss future directions for research and development. The CRISPR system has the potential to change the landscape of cancer research, and this review aims to provide an overview of the current state of the field and the challenges that need to be overcome to realize this potential.

Promotion of the inflammatory response in mid colon of complement component 3 knockout mice

To determine whether complement component 3 (C3) deficiency affects its receptor downstream-mediated inflammatory response, the current study was undertaken to measure alterations in the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)‑mediated cyclooxygenase‑2 (COX‑2) induction pathway, inflammasome pathway, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation, and inflammatory cytokine expressions in the mid colon of C3 knockout (KO) mice. Significant enhancement was observed in expressions of key components of the iNOS‑mediated COX‑2 induction pathway, and in the phosphorylation of mitogen‑activated protein (MAP) kinase members. A similar pattern of increase was also observed in the expression levels of inflammasome proteins in C3 KO mice. Moreover, compared to WT mice, C3 KO mice showed remarkably enhanced phosphorylation of NF-κB and Inhibitor of κB-α (IκB-α), which was reflected in entirety as increased expressions of Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), IL-6 and IL-1α. However, the levels of E-cadherin, tight junction channels and ion channels expressions were lower in the C3 KO mice, although myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity for neutrophils was slightly increased. Taken together, results of the current study indicate that C3 deficiency promotes inflammatory responses in the mid colon of C3 KO mice through activation of the iNOS‑mediated COX‑2 induction pathway, Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC)-inflammasome pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway, and the enhancement of inflammatory cytokine expressions.

Genome-editing approaches and applications: a brief review on CRISPR technology and its role in cancer

The development of genome-editing technologies in 1970s has discerned a new beginning in the field of science. Out of different genome-editing approaches such as Zing-finger nucleases, TALENs, and meganucleases, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) is a recent and versatile technology that has the ability of making changes to the genome of different organisms with high specificity. Cancer is a complex process that is characterized by multiple genetic and epigenetic changes resulting in abnormal cell growth and proliferation. As cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide, a large number of studies are done to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of cancer. Because of its high efficiency and specificity, CRISPR/Cas9 has emerged as a novel and powerful tool in the field of cancer research. CRISPR/Cas9 has the potential to accelerate cancer research by dissecting tumorigenesis process, generating animal and cellular models, and identify drug targets for chemotherapeutic approaches. However, despite having tremendous potential, there are certain challenges associated with CRISPR/Cas9 such as safe delivery to the target, potential off-target effects and its efficacy which needs to be addressed prior to its clinical application. In this review, we give a gist of different genome-editing technologies with a special focus on CRISPR/Cas9 development, its mechanism of action and its applications, especially in different type of cancers. We also highlight the importance of CRISPR/Cas9 in generating animal models of different cancers. Finally, we present an overview of the clinical trials and discuss the challenges associated with translating CRISPR/Cas9 in clinical use.